BALTIMORE - The Rangers activated Keone Kela Thursday after a three-week stay on the disabled list.

It is only a matter of time before he gets save opportunities.

Kela is the rarity among pitchers: He was developed with the intent of making him a closer. The Rangers don't have a designated closer at the moment. ity among pitchers: He was developed with the intent of making him a closer.

"Before I ever got to my first spring training with this team, there was conversation about this kid at Double-A with a 98 mph fastball and swing-and-miss stuff," manager Jeff Banister said. "The first time I saw him, I saw that. He has the mentality. He wants to be in that spot. He was on that trajectory, working in that direction before he got hurt."

It's just that the Rangers won't use him immediately. Or at least not regularly. Due to the shoulder issue that sent him to the DL in the first place, Kela won't be available to pitch on consecutive nights for the time being. That keeps him from assuming the role.

Funky-throwing lefty Alex Claudio has gotten the two save chances the Rangers have had since Matt Bush was removed from the role. Claudio converted both saves. While he's not a typical closer he has been effective in a short stint and will continue to figure in what Banister calls a "rotation."

But Kela, 24, looms as the most likely permanent solution.

"He has all the elements, all the pitches and the mentality," Banister said. "Right now, it's about him getting back on the mound and us being conservative with him until the feel-good is there."

Said Kela: "[Closing] has always been something I've wanted to do. It's something that I aspire to be. I know what the ninth inning brings. It's all about getting that 27th out. But we all know that what we have to do is get the three outs in our innings. I'm ready to do my best wherever and whenever I'm asked to pitch."

In his last 22 innings prior to the DL assignment, Kela had a 1.23 EA and a 0.68 WHIP. He struck out 32 in that stretch and allowed opponents a .110 batting average.